Member Spotlights

NACPC – Founded by Draymen for Draymen

For nearly a century, the goal of Farruggio’s Express has been simple: Do it right the first time. Sam Farruggio, President of the Bristol, Pennsylvania-based trucking and transportation company shares what sets NACPC apart from other gray pools in our latest Member Spotlight.

Tell us about Farruggio’s Express. What is unique about the company?

Our company was founded in 1920 by my grandfather who came over from Italy in 1907 to Ellis Island. I am a third generation Farruggio and have been with the company since 1969. We have the fourth generation with us since the mid 90s. We began our intermodal work many years ago as the container was born we were already serving the Eastern Ports. We all work to promote safety and provide the best value for our customers. After almost 100 years, we feel safety brings out the best.

Why are chassis pools important to the trucking industry?

We need to develop a better chassis to improve the safety of the industry. We need to bring a better mode to improve the operations of draymen and help improve turn times for drivers and customers, especially as the driver market shrinks.

As a member of NACPC, what benefits have you seen?

The quality of the equipment provides safer movement of cargo. It provides the driver with a feeling that he can make it to delivery without fearing a failure. NACPC equipment is setting the standard that all the larger leasing companies are following. And is allowing the cargo owners to feel safer that the goods they are waiting to arrive or ship will arrive in a state-of-the art unit.

What sets NACPC apart from the other gray pools?

It was founded by draymen for draymen and creates a safer and more equitable chassis for all to use.

What advice would you offer a company looking to join NACPC?

I believe you just need to see the equipment and talk to the team and you will find it’s a win-win for everyone.

Triple G Express has been synonymous with Louisiana trucking for four generations. Founded as Southeastern Motor Freight, Inc. in 1945 by Aswell Pitre and later expanding in 1985 with Triple G Express (founded by Pitre’s son-in-law Elmo Guillot and sons Randy and Glen), the family-owned company continues to grow, serving the Gulf Coast all the way up the East Coast and everywhere in between.

We recently spoke with Randy Guillot, President of Triple G Express, about the importance of chassis pools and why joining NACPC is the obvious choice.

Tell us a little more about Triple G Express. What does the “Triple G” stand for?

It’s the three Guillots – my father Elmo, my brother Glen, and I. We have two locations – Jefferson, Louisiana and Port Allen, Louisiana. We are one of the largest intermodal carriers serving the Port of Louisiana. We have about 100 independent contractors and 25 employees.

Let’s talk about the overall concept of chassis pools. Why are they important to the trucking industry?

The competition with chassis providers is integrally important to the industry, to motor carriers and shippers. NACPC is a different type of provider, going on an at-cost basis and making sure we’ve got good, safe equipment for customers.

What benefits has your company seen by joining NACPC?

The availability of equipment in New Orleans. We’ve got premium product here in Louisiana as NACPC. The relationship with all chassis providers seems to be enhanced by a relationship with NACPC. We have premium product on site at the Port of New Orleans – at the waterfront. This is new and happened within the last six months. It’s very convenient, shaving off time and expense.

Advice for a company looking to join NACPC?

I would say that they should look into the services and prices. It’s absolutely the most competitive in the industry.

“NACPC is Always Looking Out for MCs – It’s at the Heart of What NACPC Does”

We recently sat down with James R. Kramer, Senior Vice President – Midwest of ContainerPort Group, Inc. (CPG), to learn more about the benefits the shared and premium chassis pools operated by NACPC and how, as a founding member of NACPC, the organization has changed over the past five years.

As a founding member of NACPC, how has the organization changed over the last five years?

NACPC has stayed true to its mission by keeping the focus on at-cost. We’ve introduced more premium chassis, as well as keeping up with the changing trends in the industry. These things are important to our mission at CPG and we are happy to partner with an organization that feels the same way.

As a member, what benefits have you seen by joining NACPC?

At the NACPC member’s rate we are experiencing significant savings compared to the industry standard rate, and that amounts to significant benefits to our organization and to our customers.

Why do you choose NACPC?

It’s at the core of what NACPC does. They care about their customers. They believe in the mission. It was a program founded to benefit the motor carriers and its members.

Tell us about CPG’s utilization of premium vs shared chassis. What is unique about each?

For premium pools, the benefit is decreased M&R (maintenance and repairs) which equates to less down time for the driver. This translates to increased savings overall to a motor carriers bottom line.

CPG manages some of NACPC’s premium pools (Columbus, Cincinnati and Detroit). Tell us about that experience.

As a terminal operator, it’s important for us to provide a very efficient service for all the motor carriers that come through. The pools that we manage for NACPC are all premium pools. That means those chassis have LED lights, radial tires, anti-lock braking systems and auto-inflation, which is an advantage to all motor carriers in those regions.

We feature our latest Member Spotlight with Joel Henry, President of Memphis-based Intermodal Cartage Company, Inc., about why chassis pools are important to the transportation industry and what kinds of benefits his company has seen since joining NACPC.

Tell us a little about IMCG – when was the company founded, what is unique about the organization?

IMCG was founded in 1982. Our company has lots of capacity – we have trucks to service customers of all sizes and are nimble enough to support all types of requests. Our drivers and staff help to differentiate us from our competition. In addition, we spend close to four times the industry average on technology, we operate both company trucks and owner operators, and 100 percent of our fleet has on-board computers deployed in all trucks including Owner Ops.

Why are chassis pools important to the trucking industry?

Chassis pools help drive efficiencies through better utilization of equipment, space (land) and make it easier for railroads and ports to operate in a gray pool model.

As a member, what benefits have you seen by joining NACPC?

Higher quality chassis equate to better up time for drivers and better service for customers. Plus, there is the ability to share reduced cost to BCOs, NVOCCs and 3PLs versus other chassis pools, as well as a reduction in chassis splits.

In continuing to highlight our diverse member base, we present a recent interview with Richard R. Coyle, President of Devine Intermodal (founded as Devine & Son Trucking Co, Inc.), about why chassis pools are integral to the industry and the importance of investing in NACPC.

Tell us about Devine & Son Trucking Co., Inc.

“We go by Devine Intermodal, although we are officially still incorporated as Devine & Son Trucking Co, Inc. since 1923. We run a combination of company-owned trucks supplemented by independent contractors totaling about 200 trucks altogether. We have terminals in Sacramento, Stockton, Fresno and Oakland, California plus a large terminal in Reno, Nevada where most of our recent investment has been.

On the intermodal side of our business, we service international freight transiting the Port of Oakland, plus various rail terminals throughout Northern California and Nevada. Our heavy presence in the agricultural-rich Central Valley of California means we’re deeply engaged with myriad food processors. We haul almonds, rice, raisins, prunes, canned fruits and vegetables, wine, and many supporting and peripheral commodities like wine bottles. We also have a regional truckload division that serves the western states.”

Why are chassis pools important to the trucking industry?

“Because the geography we service covers a vast area, including the Sierra Nevada mountain passes, we have a fleet of several hundred of our own chassis outfitted with the very best components and tires to minimize problems and to make the jobs of our drivers easier.”

As an investor, why was it important to invest in NACPC?

“The overarching objectives of NACPC are sincere: Better equipment for fair and reasonable prices. If the equipment is owned and operated by TRUCKERS then it will indeed fulfill the objectives. Equipment owned and operated by non-trucker investment pools will be motivated by profit and less motivated by quality.”

A cooperative is only as good as its community partnerships. We are excited to feature our diverse member base and highlight NACPC’s growing relationships and collaboration within the intermodal industry.

“We were formed 1939 and our corporate office is located in Schuylkill Haven, PA. We have about 190 offices around the country and a fleet of 3,500 trucks. We’re mostly intermodal but we also do truckload and brokerage. We operate out of every port facility except the West Coast. We also operate out of most of the rail facilities as well.”

When did The Evans Network of Companies join NACPC and why was it a good fit?

“We started using NACPC in 2012 and later I joined as a board member and investor in 2013. It’s a great fit for Evans because they’re supplying chassis in a lot of the areas in which we operate.”

What direct benefits have you seen for your company?

“It’s a cost effective alternative to the big three chassis providers. We like the push toward better tires and lights. And we like the fact that it’s a trucker-owned pool.”

What are the major differences between NACPC and its competitors?

“What we keep seeing in the intermodal world is equipment pricing costs that keep rising and rising without any underlying cost increase justification. One of the biggest things is trying to put the brakes on unlimited price increases on chassis providers.”

Why do you think NACPC is important to the trucking industry?

“Equipment has been a huge issue in the drayage industry. We see equipment in poor shape and the truckers unfortunately are the ones getting citations and CSA score points for them. The thing I like the best about NACPC is that it’s trying to change this, it stays competitive and pushes the industry toward better equipment.”

Advice for a company looking to join NACPC?

“If you are a trucker and you’re complaining about the high cost of chassis then this is your trucker-owned chassis pool and you should support NACPC.”

We enjoy featuring our diverse member base and present a recent interview with Jeff Lang, CEO, and Dave Hensal, President, of Washington-based Eagle Systems, Inc., about why chassis pools are integral to the transportation industry and the importance of investing in NACPC.

Eagle Systems, Inc. (originally Eagle Livery & Transfer) has been around since 1903. Tell us about that legacy.

Eagle Systems, Inc. provides intermodal drayage to and from port and rail yards in 22 markets throughout the United States. We successfully moved over 133,000 containers last year. As a leader in the industry, we are proud to have built a reputation for providing quality drayage services with exceptional resources and personnel. Our employees have the same dedication, professionalism and commitment to service as the pioneers who founded Eagle Livery more than 100 years ago.

What advantages does NACPC give your company?

Operating a safe motor carrier and consistently providing a dependable on-time service are key objectives for the management group of Eagle Systems. In order to meet this objective, Eagle utilizes highly trained, dedicated professionals, the latest technology (TMS and apps) and reliable well-maintained equipment.

What sets NACPC apart from other gray pools?

NACPC, being a trucker-owned chassis provider with the same objective as Eagle Systems, has high quality dependable service and seemed like the perfect chassis provider. NACPC is not in business to make a profit – it is in business to provide a high quality chassis at a sustainable price. NACPC has helped Eagle meet its key business objectives.

We recently sat down with Scott George, CEO of NACPC member company TCW, to learn more about how NACPC has been able to transform their bottom line. Here’s what he had to say:

What was the challenge that TCW faced and how did NACPC help you address it?

SG: The challenge for TCW and the industry is the poor quality of intermodal chassis and the corresponding cost associated with substandard equipment. Radial technology replaced bias ply in 1975. LED lights have 25 times the life span of conventional lighting, yet much of the intermodal equipment provided by leasing companies still uses bias ply tires and conventional lights.

In addition to being more modern, why should trucking companies care about utilizing chassis with radial tires?

SG: Bias ply tires are not rated to carry the weight of international cargo that is legal with state issued overweight permits. The maximum bias ply rating is 3,880 pounds less than the minimum radial rating across an axle.

What has the use of NACPC’s chassis with radial tires meant to your operating costs and schedules?

SG: It costs TCW $.027 more per mile, not including the cost of driver’s valuable time, to run standard chassis versus the NACPC chassis equipped with radial tires and LED lights. In April, we had 2 flat repairs and 1 tire failure running almost 300 NACPC chassis equipped with radial tires. The other providers chassis with bias ply tires incurred 107 flat repairs and 131 tire failures in the same period.

What impact do you feel NACPC’s modernized chassis offering will have on the trucking industry?

SG: As an industry, we should not push the cost of inferior and outdated equipment to the cargo owners who ultimately pay for it. NACPC chassis bring lower cost and efficiency to the supply chain. No fleet owner specs their own trailers with bias ply tires or conventional lights so every intermodal company can benefit from reduced cost, more reliable customer service and improved driver satisfaction with NACPC chassis.